washsaint Posted 8 December, 2014 Share Posted 8 December, 2014 Sadly, on the evidence of the last 4 games, we will not be challenging for a top 4 position. Shame, as this year seems to be the year a non-traditional top 4 team has a shot at it. If we finish top 8 we will have done well......we are quite clearly not as good as we all hoped we were and teams have wised up how to play us by shutting Tadic down who has been anonymous recently. Less said about Mane the better! Still believe a sense of perspective is required: in the summer if you had said where we would be I think people would have called for us to be sectioned. Not the end of the world but we must break out of this slump soon or we run the danger of being like WBA a couple of years back. Really need to put the chances away....something we are bad at right now (and creating chances). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
croydonsaint Posted 8 December, 2014 Share Posted 8 December, 2014 Agree. Lets go back to the start of the season and how many of us really thought we could do as well as last season. I do not see why we cant still finish above 8th but will be down to getting our injured players back and perhaps a couple of good signings. Even when we have lost we have not looked bad so I still feel very optimistic, all be it frustrated as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lighthouse Posted 8 December, 2014 Share Posted 8 December, 2014 We're 5th and Chelsea are the only decent team we've yet to play. West Ham have some decent opposition coming up and we have games we can win against Everton, Palace and Burnley. No reason we can't drag ourselves back into the top four ahead of the January window and see what that brings. It's optimistic but to write off a top six as some people are doing is a bit loopy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cellone Posted 8 December, 2014 Share Posted 8 December, 2014 Stoke draw 2 all and lfc and S.F.C win by one goal. sorted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Charlie Posted 8 December, 2014 Share Posted 8 December, 2014 Bench tonight and last few games isn't that of a top 4 side. No disgrace but we havent got the squad required. 5th or 6th doable and would be great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 8 December, 2014 Share Posted 8 December, 2014 (edited) If this season's opening 15 fixtures (and results) had been played in reverse we'd be looking at our 5th place in a different light. Who's to say we can't now go on another decent run? Ergo its still too early to write off our top 4 credentials. The only defeat this season that wasn't harsh is the City game (and we matched them in the first half). I think we'll inevitably finish outside the top 4 but I'm not basing that on our defeats thus far as most of them have been harsh results. Edited 8 December, 2014 by trousers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted 8 December, 2014 Share Posted 8 December, 2014 If this season's opening 15 fixtures (and results) had been played in reverse we'd be looking at our 5th place in a different light. Who's to say we can't now go on another decent run? Ergo its still too early to write off our top 4 credentials. The only defeat this season that wasn't harsh is the City game (and we matched them in the first half). I think we'll inevitably finish outside the top 4 but I'm not basing that on our defeats thus far as most of them have been harsh results. Quite so. The league table means diddly squat at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smirking_Saint Posted 8 December, 2014 Share Posted 8 December, 2014 There were far too many counting their chickens before we hit this busy period tbh, the writing was more or less on the wall for me in the fact that we struggle scoring against the top top teams (just like last year) which would always be obvious. Still doable, and I still think we can finish top 6 definately top 8. We are still strong defensively and our midfield is as strong as more or less anyone else in the league. We are 2 top players away, we need to sign a quality wide man and another CF in january. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golden Balls Posted 8 December, 2014 Share Posted 8 December, 2014 Top 4 is always going to be a huge ask but I wouldn't base it all on the last 4 games. Last 2 we've been very unlucky! Arsenal proved last season you can lose to all the big boys and still make it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted 8 December, 2014 Share Posted 8 December, 2014 Make no mistake, 3rd and especially 4th place are still right open. It's going to take a lot of luck but we could possibly sneak it, regardless of recent results. Top 6 is still a certainty in my eyes and that in itself would be a great season, especially if we get to a cup final. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andoru Posted 9 December, 2014 Share Posted 9 December, 2014 We won't make the top four, but honestly it's not because we aren't good enough, but because it's just really bloody hard to qualify for it. A team has to go the whole season almost without error, and with plenty of luck. It's not always about ability. We should have got something from both Arsenal and Man Utd, but we didn't. Luck wasn't with us. Meanwhile, the likes of Spurs get two hugely undeserved wins against teams that went down to 10 men, Liverpool only beat QPR thanks to two own goals, etc. The way I see it, pretty much all of our points this season have been points we've won, not been gifted. Some of the results were hard fought – e.g. away to Hull, home to Leicester – but we didn't rely on opposition mistakes or refereeing decisions. Maybe at some point we'll get some of those go our way, but I wouldn't bank on it. Because of this, I don't see us making CL. Bigger clubs do tend to benefit from 'luck' a bit more than the rest of us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Fry Posted 9 December, 2014 Share Posted 9 December, 2014 Once the big clubs started paying journalists to write destabilising stories about us, we didn't stand a chance. Mission accomplished. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 9 December, 2014 Share Posted 9 December, 2014 Did that many really expect to finis in the top 4? I think most Saints fans I know expected us to drop away a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultimatt Posted 9 December, 2014 Share Posted 9 December, 2014 4 points from the next 2 games and we're probably back in top 4 at almost the halfway point. JayRod is weeks away and will give us another decent option off the bench. We just thoroughly outplayed a ManU team in 3rd place, have beaten WestHam (4th), deserved something out of Liverpool and Arsenal and almost snatched a point at Spurs. We're a strong side with the right attributes in the right areas, we'll create chances to win most games and it'll come down to how clinical we can be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
70's Mike Posted 9 December, 2014 Share Posted 9 December, 2014 5 YEARS ago we would have said you were nuts if you had said we would be 5th in the premier league if after 19 games, played everyone once, we are still 5th then top 4 may still be on but totally depends on being injury free, Jay Rod and JWP hitting top form early(they will be like 2 new signings as far as this season is concerned) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarrettIvo Posted 9 December, 2014 Share Posted 9 December, 2014 Burnley away, Everton at home, and then Palace away. Play as we did last night, with more clinical finishing, and that's 9 points. If that happens we'll be forgetting about the past week pretty quickly. We should be getting at least 5 from those games to be honest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_Tony Posted 9 December, 2014 Share Posted 9 December, 2014 Make no mistake, 3rd and especially 4th place are still right open. It's going to take a lot of luck but we could possibly sneak it, regardless of recent results. Top 6 is still a certainty in my eyes and that in itself would be a great season, especially if we get to a cup final. So after taking zero points from City, Utd and Arsenal, we can still make 3rd or 4th? And top 6 is a certainty? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 9 December, 2014 Share Posted 9 December, 2014 So after taking zero points from City, Utd and Arsenal, we can still make 3rd or 4th? And top 6 is a certainty? Nothing's a "certainty" but, yes, we can still come anywhere from 3rd to 6th as things stand. We could even sink lower than that, what with football being as unpredictable as it is.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted 9 December, 2014 Share Posted 9 December, 2014 So after taking zero points from City, Utd and Arsenal, we can still make 3rd or 4th? And top 6 is a certainty? You have to consider the overall picture. 3 games do not a season make. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junior Mullet Posted 9 December, 2014 Share Posted 9 December, 2014 We're 5th and Chelsea are the only decent team we've yet to play. West Ham have some decent opposition coming up and we have games we can win against Everton, Palace and Burnley. No reason we can't drag ourselves back into the top four ahead of the January window and see what that brings. It's optimistic but to write off a top six as some people are doing is a bit loopy. I agree with all that. A win at Burnley should see us back in the top four. Everton and Palace are tough but winnable games. Our team may currently be the most depleted it will be this season. Morgan and Toby aren't far from coming back - last night we would have won with them in. I think Chelsea and Man City are by far the best top 2 sides. Beneath them United, Arsenal, West Ham, ourselves and Newcastle are all in with a shout of top four. I think West Ham have a great chance of sealing a top 4 spot - they have three good goal scoring forwards (we have just one until J Rod gets back). Arsenal are too inconsistent and the crowd are really on Wenger's back and I think he'll be sacked at the end of the season. United's defence was the worst I've seen since Sunderland and LVG's insistence on playing 3 at the back with Young and Valencia as wing backs is stubborn rubbish. Newcastle on their day are decent (see Chelsea win) but will fade. We can make the top four but it will depend on how fit we can keep our starting eleven and how well we strengthen in January. The bench last night was absolutely threadbare and Tadic and Long were both clearly carrying knocks from the Arsenal match and so never going to last the full 90. Tadic had a large ice pack thing on his knee as we left last night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickG Posted 9 December, 2014 Share Posted 9 December, 2014 So after taking zero points from City, Utd and Arsenal, we can still make 3rd or 4th? And top 6 is a certainty? You do realise those are not only some of the hardest games, but still only count for 3 points each? Lose, home and away to Chelsea, Man C, Man U, Arsenal, Liverpool and Spurs and you still have 13 easier teams to get points from. Win those and you would have 78 points. Easily enough for top 4. This season maybe mid 60's may get 4th. Do you think, even if we lose all of those harder games, that it is impossible that we will get over 60 points? If that is possible then you shouldn't write off top 4. I don't think we will get top 4, but we certainly have a fair chance still, whatever happened in last three. (Although 3 wins and I would be starting to get confident!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted 9 December, 2014 Share Posted 9 December, 2014 So after taking zero points from City, Utd and Arsenal, we can still make 3rd or 4th? And top 6 is a certainty? Yes dear. Or do you think teams finishing in the top 4 have never dropped more than 9 points? Look at arsenals record against the top sides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junior Mullet Posted 9 December, 2014 Share Posted 9 December, 2014 It occurred to me last night that Chelsea or City might consider loaning us players in January to try and stop one of their bigger rivals getting Champions League. Kinda makes sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Duckhunter Posted 9 December, 2014 Share Posted 9 December, 2014 Yes dear. Or do you think teams finishing in the top 4 have never dropped more than 9 points? Look at arsenals record against the top sides. Exactly. 6 points from the next 2 , and the whole thing changes again. Realistically, we haven't got the squad for top 4, but we can match last years finish, even if we lose to all the top sides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Fry Posted 9 December, 2014 Share Posted 9 December, 2014 You do realise those are not only some of the hardest games, but still only count for 3 points each? Lose, home and away to Chelsea, Man C, Man U, Arsenal, Liverpool and Spurs and you still have 13 easier teams to get points from. Win those and you would have 78 points. Easily enough for top 4. This season maybe mid 60's may get 4th. Do you think, even if we lose all of those harder games, that it is impossible that we will get over 60 points? If that is possible then you shouldn't write off top 4. I don't think we will get top 4, but we certainly have a fair chance still, whatever happened in last three. (Although 3 wins and I would be starting to get confident!) How many top 4 finishing teams have lost 12 games in a season? Let us know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Charlie Posted 9 December, 2014 Share Posted 9 December, 2014 We aren't going to finish top 4. Our squad isnt strong enough to do that unless we bring in 3 or 4 players in January and even then it would be bloody difficult. We arguably havent got a point off of a team who are marginally better than us this season and the last three matches have ended the game with Mayuka (who could get a look in previously) as a go to man off the bench. Anything 7 th or above would be another great season with the squad we have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 9 December, 2014 Share Posted 9 December, 2014 How many top 4 finishing teams have lost 12 games in a season? One? Everton 2004/05. 13 defeats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 9 December, 2014 Share Posted 9 December, 2014 We're 5th and Chelsea are the only decent team we've yet to play. West Ham have some decent opposition coming up and we have games we can win against Everton, Palace and Burnley. No reason we can't drag ourselves back into the top four ahead of the January window and see what that brings. It's optimistic but to write off a top six as some people are doing is a bit loopy. In principle you are correct. I would be a lot more confident of it panning out that way if Toby, Morgan and J-Rod are back soon, we fend off the usual vutures in January and we dont drop any more b*ll*cks like Villa... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadoldgit Posted 9 December, 2014 Share Posted 9 December, 2014 We aren't going to finish top 4. Our squad isnt strong enough to do that unless we bring in 3 or 4 players in January and even then it would be bloody difficult. We arguably havent got a point off of a team who are marginally better than us this season and the last three matches have ended the game with Mayuka (who could get a look in previously) as a go to man off the bench. Anything 7 th or above would be another great season with the squad we have. But would you also agree that we aren't going to be relegated? That was the consensus of many in the summer. No one thought we would finish top 4 then. We have had a really good season so far and have not disgraced ourselves against the so called top 4 teams. We looked so much better than Manchester United last night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doddisalegend Posted 9 December, 2014 Share Posted 9 December, 2014 The way I see it after the summer any finish in and around last seasons 8th is a good result which I would have taken in August. Our really good start had me dreaming a bit in recent weeks and the last few games have brought me back down to earth. We have 15 or so first teamers who are decent but we need a bigger stronger squad to push much further. We are a good PL side, with no debt, great facilities, a good academy, an excellent manager and some top class players we should be pretty happy really. For a club like ours the cups (with a bit of luck) are our best chance of achieving something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_Tony Posted 9 December, 2014 Share Posted 9 December, 2014 It's fine arguing that there's plenty of games left. Ive mentioned the games against the bigger sides, but are we realistically going to take maximum points from the likes of west ham, swansea, stoke, sunderland and hull second time around? Because that's what we will need to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Charlie Posted 9 December, 2014 Share Posted 9 December, 2014 But would you also agree that we aren't going to be relegated? That was the consensus of many in the summer. No one thought we would finish top 4 then. We have had a really good season so far and have not disgraced ourselves against the so called top 4 teams. We looked so much better than Manchester United last night. Agree 100% with that, brilliant season far. Just hope the few that thought we could get top 4 after beating teams worse than us realise that 8th or above is a great return after a rocky summer. Great chance of a cup final too but top 4 is not a realistic aim (which Koeman also said near the beginning of the season). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Charlie Posted 9 December, 2014 Share Posted 9 December, 2014 The way I see it after the summer any finish in and around last seasons 8th is a good result which I would have taken in August. Our really good start had me dreaming a bit in recent weeks and the last few games have brought me back down to earth. We have 15 or so first teamers who are decent but we need a bigger stronger squad to push much further. We are a good PL side, with no debt, great facilities, a good academy, an excellent manager and some top class players we should be pretty happy really. For a club like ours the cups (with a bit of luck) are our best chance of achieving something. Great summary. To be top 4 you need 20 really good PL players and one or two world class. We have neither. Nor do any other clubs of our stature. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted 9 December, 2014 Share Posted 9 December, 2014 we wont be finishing top 4. we never were going to that is OK in my book. Be good to get to the league cup final though (just avoid chelsea in the semi's) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Fry Posted 9 December, 2014 Share Posted 9 December, 2014 One? Everton 2004/05. 13 defeats. Good research. I gave up after the last five seasons. Everton went on to spectacular CL glory, too. If we do finish top four, it won't be on the back of losing every freaking game against the big clubs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now